Eureka! Zip Code Conundrum For Canadians Solved?

[marcopolo]

From time to time I have railed about the ever-expanding requirement to enter a Zip code at gas pumps in the U.S. Obviously not a big deal if you live in the U.S., but for visitors it can be a major PITA, especially when you're on a bike, it's hot and you just want to gas up and go. My just completed thirty-day sojourn in and around the UnRally was my most frustrating experience with this yet (while trying to get gas at a Shell station near the Denver airport I spent no less than twenty minutes before the guy inside figured out how to turn on the pump, even with three locals helping me out). In any event, on my very last day on the road -- and only 250 miles from home -- I pull into a Mobil station near Rochester, NY. I was surprised when the Zip code demand popped up on the pump's display (this typically doesn't happen so close to home). I waltz into the booth and ask the young woman manning the controls if she would be so kind as to turn on the pump as I don't have a Zip code. She then asks if I'm Canadian. I answer, yes. She then says she has something that will help and would I write my Canadian postal code on the slip of paper she produced. I proceed to do so: K1M 1W2. She then strokes out the letters and I'm left with: 112. She then says to simply add two zeros to the end and punch that in at the pump. I go back outside and sure enough it works. I go back in and thank her and ask why nobody else at the countless gas stations I've been to in the U.S. know this little secret. She doesn't know either. I then blast off down the road, but am left wondering if this only works at Mobil stations. I decide to stop in Ogdensburg, N.Y. (just across the border) to gas up, though I'm presuming there'll be no Zip code demand. I was wrong. I'm a t Valero station and it demands a Zip code. I try my new-found trick and punch in 11200. Sure enough, it works there to. In fact I see that there's a rather prominent notice on the pump explaining how we Canucks should do it. All this to say, other frustrated Canucks might want to try this next time they face the ever more prevalent Zip code demand,.

[Kathy R]

I suspect that Americans who live near the border have been more familiarity with this problem. Yeah, it's maddening that you've had to endure that, but did you ever Google It ? . Google is my friend

 

I like that a thief is thwarted from using my CC for gasoline and hopefully this slows their progress.

[Albert]

I blame the metric system.

 

Newton be damned - Save the Slug!!

[na1g]

The zipcode thing is partly for security, but also helps the company track where their customers are from so they may open stations there.

 

Of course you could always pay cash.

 

pete

[Hookman]

It’s called data mining.

[marcopolo]

I fully understand the supposed security reasons regarding CC fraud. Maybe it's time to move to chip-enabled credit cards where you have to enter your PIN. The Euros have been doing that for a while and we made the move in the last few years. Yes, Google is everyone's friend, though having never found a gas station attendant who knew of a workaround, didn't think there was much point. Lesson learned. BTW, despite what someone said at the link, Kathy, 90210 does not work. Tried that before several times. It obviously has to match the digits encoded on the back of the CC.

[tallman]

Surprising since there are tools to grab the card info from a nearby car.

With the PIN the crooks could quickly start cashing out.

 

I'm a fan of something like a thumbprint enabled scanner while you hold the card.

Won't validate use without that.

Haven't seen one...

[Smoky]

I've been using that method for about three years now.

 

Works almost everywhere, except Chevron in southern California.

 

 

[johnlt]

Has anyone thought of calling the oil company (Chevron) and asking them WTFO?

[elkroeger]

hmmm... neat little trick. Glad you found a solution. But seems to me that the c.c. issuing bank could have helped you with this.

[Smoky]

If I loose, or my card is stolen, it's unlikely the thief will know my postal code. This could slow down some unauthorized use of the card.

 

I don't mind the delay, when it works.

[Lmar]

Thanks Mark I'm going to try that on my trip to Arizona next week.

[Glen_M]

Yes, Mark. Thanks for this tip. It's been a constant source of frustration on trips south of the parallel!

 

Glen_M

[wbrissette]

I suspect that Americans who live near the border have been more familiarity with this problem.

 

Maybe but don't count on it. I spent a year living in Toronto, we'd come back to the states and all along the US/Canadian border in the US, you would see signs that read: No Canadian Currency. The NY Throughway claims they will take Canadian currency, but try to pay in Canadian currency some time. Unless you give them a $20, they don't want it.

 

The flip-side to that is you go to any of the Canadian towns/cities and hand them US currency and they know how to deal with it and their cash registers know how to deal with it. Expect Canadian currency as change, and life is good.

 

I have never figured out why we are so pig-headed here in the States about this. We want visitors, but only if they speak dollars and English drives me crazy. (US/Mexico border excluded... living semi-close to that now, it's a whole other world).

 

Wayne

[marcopolo]

hmmm... neat little trick. Glad you found a solution. But seems to me that the c.c. issuing bank could have helped you with this.

 

You would have thought so, but every time I leave the country I let them know, and if I say I'm heading south, they simply say I should be aware that I may well be asked for a Zip code at a gas pump.

[marcopolo]

...I'm a fan of something like a thumbprint enabled scanner while you hold the card.

Won't validate use without that.

Haven't seen one...

 

Not sure I'd want to encourage a CC thief to also cut my thumb off after he steals the card.

[Peter Parts]

The problem, I am guessing, is at the cc end. The merchant queries (or "queries" if you are Canadian) the cc to see if the zip-like number you entered at the pump matches the cc company's records for you. All the cc company have (or "has" if you are American) to do is say yes.

 

Major grief recently ordering Amtrak tickets by phone too. Maybe the merchant has some role in this circus too. Dunno.

 

Depending on your trip, other alternatives are a US bank cc (and your current mailing address on the cc company's records is in the US.......DAMHIK). We have a neat bi-national account with a virtual bank, "RBC-Georgia." a figment of the bank-you-love-to-hate here. Or a Canadian bank cc denominated in US dollars (my BMO MC also provides rental car collision waiver insurance for $30/hr).

 

Yes, the pseudo-zip works some of the time. Yuck.

 

Ben

[Dietrich]

Thanks for posting it, I'll remeber that on my next trip down south. It was frustrating going to Sedalia in July. On the other hand one got a bit of a break to stretch the legs and walk around a bit. That didn't hurt either.